Is “Adolescence,” The Netflix Mini-Series, An Eye Opener For Us To Review Our Parenting Style In Dire Urgency

The British crime drama “Adolescence” has sparked an elaborate debate worldwide about the influence of toxic online content, faulty school education, and indifferent parenting styles. Significant discussions are being held about peer influences on youth and how far these influences can ruin a teenager’s life forever. The narrative of the series also highlighted the complex interplay of several factors that led to the psychological struggles of a 13-year-old; ultimately provoking him towards a heinous crime.

Whom To Blame?

Nowadays, the influence of digital technology on children is too high, and parents are finding it hard to balance freedom and control, especially with their teenagers. The key challenge for them is to manage these influences while ensuring children’s healthy emotional development. In this fast-paced world, most working parents struggle to spend quality time with their teenage sons and daughters. As a result, these young minds spend a considerable amount of time online. They are consuming online content that is not age-appropriate. 

Sometimes, they watch videos of social media influencers and try to imitate them in real life. This online culture leads to the sharing of undesirable content through social media platforms with peers and other youth. This vicious cycle of so-called ‘staying connected’ with peers is always proving detrimental to mental health. Peer groups, strongly impacted by social media and digital content, play a greater role than ever in shaping children's viewpoints.

The “Adolescence” series opens with a powerful scene where Jamie Miller’s parents struggle with helplessness upon discovering the disturbing online content their 13-year-old son has been consuming constantly— the content that ultimately shaped his mindset and led to a cold, guilt-free crime. Against this backdrop of negative influences, the series explores the alarming impact of unchecked digital exposure on young minds.

The story's narrative resonates not only with today’s parents but also with teachers. Schools these days are breeding grounds of aggression, low tolerance, and anxiety for young minds. Even teachers are struggling to address these issues. Today’s youth have probably become more antagonistic, fearless, aggressive, unempathetic, and unapologetic.  But the question that we all are asking each other is WHY?

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Aggressive Behaviour Factor & Ways to Reduce Aggressive Behaviour in Children

Parenting - Modern parenting is a double-edged sword as parents strive to give their growing children enough time while simultaneously battling the guilt of not doing enough. Many parents feel powerless when trying to understand and monitor their children’s online exposure. However, open communication can help. Parents need to talk to their teenagers frequently, understand their opinions, befriend their peers, and have a thorough knowledge of the peer culture their teenager is involved with. 

Tips: 

• Encourage judgment-free discussions about their issues and concerns, interests, and dislikes.

• Parents should plan regular family outings and encourage better communication and bonding with grown-up children.

• Parents should teach their teens ways of self-love and self-acceptance. Teens should accept themselves the way they are instead of being pressured by social expectations.

• Standing up to harm boldly should begin at home. Parents can help teenagers learn ways to challenge the negative behavior of peers and never succumb to unhealthy practices.

• Get to know their friends, encourage home parties, and be a part of their circle.

• Educate them about online safety not by lecturing but through mutual discussions.

Schools - Teachers are seeing behavioral shifts among students. Young boys are getting exposed to online content that is both harmful and misleading. They tend to idolize other handsome men online and try to become one of them. Moreover, most boys fall prey to bullying if their physicality is not attractive enough compared to their peers. These boys develop issues like poor self-esteem and social isolation. Moreover, teachers also see that unfiltered access to online content is becoming a normalized trend in society. 

Tips:

• Teachers can interact more with teenagers by talking about real-world scenarios and digital tools, such as understanding the use of too many emojis while using digital platforms.

• Friendships between boys and girls should be simple and transparent, allowing the breakdown of stereotypes and fostering mutual support.

• Teachers should address disrespectful behavior in schools upfront, irrespective of whether it's shown towards a boy or girl so that kindness and mutual respect thrive in educational setups.

• Support clubs and sports activities that align with their interest

• Schools should implement open sessions where each child gets a chance to voice their opinions about the struggles of growing up, their needs, and concerns.

• Involving teens in creating placards, brochures, and resource materials to promote mental health awareness

Online Content - Nowadays, the digital world is shaping teen perspectives. Due to too much access, these young minds are being exposed to harmful online content that is also desensitizing them to criminal activities. 

Tips: 

• Limited screen time should be the motto

• Use of parental control to filter harmful and age-inappropriate content

• Avoid engaging with unknown and toxic online communities that involve too many teenagers

• Be mindful of privacy and avoid sharing personal information, photos, and videos online, even with known peers

• To openly discuss online experiences with trusted adults and parents more often

Peer Groups - Both online and offline peer influences should be considered before understanding today’s teenage behavior patterns. Adolescence is a developmental stage when the need for acceptance and validation from peer groups is at its peak. Since most teens suffer from identity crises, they feel lonely and sad when not accepted by their same-age peers. 

As a result, they may resort to all sorts of good and bad activities simply to please their friends. Online communities are easily accessible these days; teens are falling prey to adult content that is obscene, violent, and antagonistic to mental health.

Tips:

• Peers can minimize screen sharing through a unanimous decision

• They should be involved in real-world interactions through sports, adventure activities, hiking, cycling, etc, so that screen time is reduced

• Support each other in resisting peer pressure related to negative online stuff

• Fact-check online content before sharing it amongst online communities

What Do Parents Think About What Their Children Are Consuming Online?

When interacting with parents, shocking truths unfurled. One parent expressed concern about her son’s excessive screen time. She noticed shifts in his behavior as he became unmindful of daily tasks and showed less interest in his studies. Moreover, lately, the boy has become more stubborn, less compassionate, and shows aggression at the slightest inconvenience. 

Another parent was concerned about how reduced physical activity is making children obese and unhealthy. While speaking with another parent, a startling truth emerged. These days, teens idolize online personalities and influencers and wish to have a similar lifestyle. At times, these differing opinions with parents escalate into yelling, shouting, or even outright conflicts within the household.

Are School Teachers Seeing Any Worrying Trend In Schools Among Young Boys?

Many teachers reported that they are concerned about the future of today’s youth. One of the teachers noticed the reduced attention span of many boys and girls in her class. The boys in her class are aggressive, with no remorse for their wrongdoings. Even when scolded, some of them appeared completely indifferent to what was being told to them. 

Speaking with another teacher yielded a similar response, as she pointed out that most boys in her class have Facebook pages and personal Instagram handles where they regularly upload photos and share opinions about adult topics. This teacher expressed her concern about the unfiltered use of online content that is enough to spoil their tender minds forever. Most of these boys show disinterest in studies, sports, and co-curricular activities. They are also verbally abusive and physically dominant over other teens who defy them openly. 

“Adolescence” mini-series is a hard truth. It's a reminder of the challenges parents, teachers, and society are facing while dealing with youth. Shaping young minds with understanding and support is the need of the hour. It's time to review our parenting strategies one more time before negative influences take root permanently. There is increased urgency to foster open dialogue with teens every day, check their online presence, and instill critical thinking so that they are well-equipped to handle real-life crises as responsible members of society.